Sometimes, that means a research trip to London, Paris, or Venice. (Or, of you're me, to upstate New York. Sigh.) When you're taking pictures, getting tours, asking questions and interviewing people, you need to A) look respectable and B) be prepared for the weather. Even more often, our travel involves book tours and conferences, meetings with people from our publishing houses and awards dinners. Those are the most complicated trips to pack for. What to do when it's 40° in New England and 85° in Houston? How do you fit two cocktail dresses plus accessories into your rollerboard? When do people get sick of seeing you in the same three outfits in all your Facebook/Twitter/Instagram pictures?
Friends, I may at last have this sorted. I was thrilled to read an article in Tuesday's New York Times about a new sort of concierge service being offered at hotels and resorts around the country: pairing with clothing rental companies to deliver wowza outfits straight to your room.
Last December, W Hotels teamed up with the subscription fashion service Rent the Runway to launch a closet concierge amenity at select hotels, including W Aspen, W South Beach, W Washington D.C. and W Hollywood. Upon booking, guests at these hotels gain access to Rent the Runway’s more than 15,000 women’s styles, as well as an edited selection of clothing and accessories based on each destination. For a one-time fee of $69, guests can rent four items for up to eight days; everything will be pressed and ready-to-wear upon arrival. When checking out, guests just return the rented items to the front desk.
I'm already a fan of Rent the Runway, having used it to deliver fancy outfits for Agatha and Anthony Award evenings. Leaving the clothing when checking out is even easier than dropping it into the nearest UPS box.
Other places are partnering with Trvl Porter and Lady Jetset to get Insta-worthy clothing into travelers' hands. In some cases, instead of renting, guests can borrow all the necessaries for outdoor trekking, or select from the hotel's collection of Rhone or Lululemon workout gear - no carrying sweaty gym clothes home!
Reds, what do you think? Would you use services like these?
HALLIE EPHRON: “Cocktail dresses, cabana wear, ski wear”??? These people live in a different world. Though I have to say whenever I get ready to go to the airport I wish I didn’t have to schlep luggage. Are they renting underwear, too? Curious minds. I suppose it might make sense to not have to schlep a coat and boots, especially if you live year ‘round somewhere you’d never need them.
However, I could see an entire murder plot that involves rented clothing at a fancy hotel.
LUCY BURDETTE: OMG, I was sort of in until I read the part about “the selfie effect”--that is, not wanting to repeat the same outfit on Instagram. Sigh. If I was going skiing once a year for example, it would make sense to rent outdoor clothes and skis. John rents skis when he goes on his yearly family trip because they are hard to ship and the technology keeps improving. (I’ve given up skiing BTW--too cold and too many crazy people hurtling down the mountain ready to take me out.)
And our daughter used Rent the Runway for a while--but she’s tall and thin, and can look good in most anything. I, on the other hand, have to try a lot of clothes on before I settle on something that could be flattering. So no, I won’t be renting my clothes at the next hotel!
As for the plot, Hallie, what are you thinking, blood on the delivered rental clothes??
JENN McKINLAY: Yes, please! At least for the winter clothes for this desert dweller. We never had boots or coats that fit when the boys were younger and I hated buying clothes that they’d wear for one week and then outgrow before the next trip. Argh.
JULIA: Oh, Jenn, that must have been a pain. My version of that was discovering, a week before going to Cancun or Hawaii or Key West in the winter, that the kids had outgrown their swim suits. Have you ever tried buying a child's bathing suit in Maine in December?
JULIA: What do you think, Dear Readers? A fabulous convenience, or another sign of the impending apocalypse?
HANK PHILLLIPPI RYAN: Nope nope nope. I do not need workout clothes. Because: I am not gonna workout when I am on the road. (I walk and walk on tour, getting many steps on my fitbit in the hotel hallways, wearing flats and very packable leggings, and no one sees me. Luckily for them!) I also don’t want clothes from someone else. I see the point, I do, and if I am in New York and suddenly get invited to the Queen’s ball, I will go to a store. Whatever fits in my carryon bag, that’s what I can wear.
I agree, I am tired of lugging stuff, but that’s the way it goes.
RHYS BOWEN: I do book tours, go to Europe, on cruises and manage to get by with black slacks and fancy jackets. However, if one of my projects is Oscar-worthy I shall certainly rent one of Helen Mirren’s dresses!
JULIA: What do you think, Dear Readers? A fabulous convenience, or another sign of the impending apocalypse?
Meh . . . . It sounds good, but I can’t picture it actually working well and, besides, I’d be the one who got the dress that looked simply awful when I put it on . . . . I believe I’ll pass [but I want to read Hallie’s story . . . I can definitely see that plot unfolding.]
ReplyDeleteJoan, I know, right? As soon as she said that, I thought...Oooooo!
DeleteI'm with Lucy - as I shrink in height (but unfortunately not girth), I have to try many outfits on to find something I'm happy with. Going clothes shopping is one of the most depressing things I do. So, yeah, no. Sounds good but wouldn't work for me.
ReplyDeleteThere seems to be a lot of this in the comments, Edith - maybe it indicates there's a great business opportunity to rent clothing to older, shorter (and, ah, girthier) women!
DeleteYes, Lucy's answer struck a chord with me, too. I am slightly under 5' 2" tall and clothes just aren't made to fit women of my height. (I find this true no matter what weight I happen to be at the time.) So while I think the idea sounds wonderful, it also sounds totally unworkable for the many women like me, who have to try on a whole armload of dresses to find that one that fits.
ReplyDeleteNot a rental place, Susan, but have you tried Talbot's Petites? My sister in law (4' 10") swears by them.
DeleteThanks, Julia. I desperately need some new black conference pants!
DeleteTalbot’s Petites are great. And I buy classic pieces there when on sale. Also have discovered their T by Talbot’s line of casual/workout clothes.
DeleteI think this is probably a very good idea for some people, but since I am the same height as Susan I don't think it would work for me. But then again I'm probably not going anywhere where I would need a certain type of clothing. It really does make sense for warm weather people who want to vacation in the cold and ice. (Why?)
ReplyDeleteSkiing, Judi! Or White Christmas tourism. We get a lot of visitors to Portland, ME around the holidays because we have a white Christmas 3 out of every 4 years.
DeleteMy daughter used Rent the Runway for her high school senior prom dress, and I have to say it was a great decision. So...
ReplyDeleteI would use it if I was doing something like that. One, because I don't HAVE any dresses in that category and I don't want to buy one. Two, because I don't want to pack them. But anything else? Probably not. However, I can see this kind of service being very popular with Millennials or even folks my daughter's age. You may not want to shlep them and if it's a specialty item (like a dress or outerwear for a once-in-a-lifetime trip) you might not want to buy it.
I, too, want to read Hallie's story.
Liz, I've heard RtR is increasingly popular with young women for proms and also for dressy weddings - no need to pack a special outfit for your friends' destination weddings.
DeleteExactly. And no need to buy a dress that you may never wear again.
DeleteI say yes to this, but only because I think we place far too much emphasis on clothes. I mean, they're necessary but we invest too much money and time into thinking about what to wear. For the record, I don't care what an author wears from one book launch or conference to the other. Just give me a good story to read, your hand to shake and the chance for a brief connection, and I'm a happy fan.
ReplyDeleteAnd with the flu still on and the threat of Covid-19, we may be skipping on the hand shaking, Amanda!
DeleteGood point, Julia. I hadn't thought of that...bring on the selfie, instead, I guess!
Delete"everything will be pressed and ready-to-wear"
ReplyDeleteThe above line stopped me in my tracks. Pressed and ready-to-wear? No mention of freshly cleaned? I'm with Hallie. This has all the makings of a horror story.
And not to disappoint you, but I have no recollection of what anyone was wearing at Bouchercon, not one. Well, one. Jim Ziskin was wearing jeans, oxford cloth shirt, and a blazer. But then he always does. &;>) Hey, I invented a Ziskin emoji!
We are planning a two week driving trip in France in the autumn. I will take one carry on, containing a week's worth of undies, because we always stop for a couple of hours and do some laundry, a couple of pairs of black pants and maybe four shirts/blouses plus a sleep shirt. Toiletries are sold in France by the way, so no reason to schlep bottles of this and that. Saves weight and the French stuff is usually luxurious and fun to try. I'll wear a jacket and shoes. Done and dusted.
But no, I don't rent clothing.
Ann, are you currently being buried in snow? I have read the forecasts, so I worry about you. Hope you are tidily tucked up with tons of food and stacks of good books. And all your beloveds, of course.
DeleteAnn, you remind me of my mother, who would also travel to Europe for two weeks with a purse and a carry-on. Crisp jeans, a stack of chic t-shirts, one skirt and a bunch of scarves was her go-to wardrobe, and I must say, she always looked good.
DeleteWe've had about 85 inches of snow this year, but we've had frequent thaws, and I'm talking temps in the high fifties. So we aren't buried by any means. We do keep the pantry stocked and the cars full of gas, have race cord of wood and lots of candles in case of power failure. Light snow starting this afternoon, won't be a bother. Rochester spends a ton on snow removal, so if we can keep our steep drive clear, the streets and sidewalks are usually plowed by the time we run out of French toast making materials!
DeleteNot to worry but thank you. xox
Julia, what is this skirt thing you mention? Is that like pants without legs?
DeleteAnn, I hear you on the toiletries. I don't travel with shampoo, conditioner, etc. any more because hotels always have that stuff. Depending on the class of hotel, it might even be luxury goods! Ditto the hair dryer.
DeleteFor a certain demographic, this would work really well. When I was younger, and fitter, and traveling a lot it would have been a wonderful convenience, but it just won't work for most of us.
ReplyDeleteKaren, my travel partner in the 1990's, had a wardrobe emergency on a trip we took to the Detroit area. She discovered that her beautiful violet wool dress had moth holes all down the front, which she had not noticed when she packed for the trip. That dress was to be her outfit for one of the three days, and the other garments she'd packed were separates. This was kind of a disaster, especially since Karen is a longlegged and statuesque 6' 2", and at the time weighed over 200 pounds. She made ALL her clothes, because even the "big and tall girl" shops had very little for her. Not to mention it was 8:00 at night when she discovered the moth holes.
There's a long saga of what she did, and how she saved the trip by her own ingenuity (she is a brilliant designer and patternmaker), but suffice it to say, shopping for an actual garment was not part of it. Not even a service like Rent the Runway could have helped.
I liked Hank's solution, when she was Toastmaster at Malice: ship her lovely ball gown skirt to herself at the hotel. Worn with a fancy jacket, she looked fabulous. But I shiver to think of shipments--of any kind--going awry!
I'm invited to a dinner party at a fancy restaurant tomorrow night, and I have nothing dressy enough to wear. Wish we'd had this conversation earlier in the week.
By the way, there is a huge problem with fashion waste, and it is getting lots worse. Styles change quickly, and with cheap clothing available from China (up to now; the coronavirus and tariffs may change this situation drastically), women, in particular, swap wardrobe components at a much faster rate today.
DeleteThis is one of the reasons for the Maria Kondo effect: we are overwhelmed with our own possessions, and clothing and shoes are a big part of that.
But the worst part is what happens A) after styles don't sell, despite tons of markdowns, and B) all our mountains of donated clothing that also does not sell needs to be disposed of. A lot of this excess used to be shipped overseas--back to where it came from, in some cases. Some of it was worn, but a lot of it ended up, inevitably, in a dump somewhere. It's a really wasteful situation, from the raw materials to the endless travel these clothes take in their lives.
Remember the award season celebrities wearing sustainable fashion? That was in response to this situation. Joaquin Phoenix famously wore the same tux to every show. Of course, it's easier for men to manage this.
I had reason to go through my closet the other day, and was astonished by the stuff I have and don't wear. I'd read the same things about clothing waste, and wondered where I could get rid of the things I don't use. Still a poser. If I'd known you needed a cocktail dress, though, I could have shipped you two.
DeleteDang, wish I'd known, Gigi.
DeleteLocally, our waste company has a recycling program for anything made of fiber. If they can't sell it to a reseller they break it down and use it for a variety of reasons. We had all these old insulated drapes that went into the bags last year.
Karen, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been very open about wearing Rent the Runway for TV appearances, special events, etc., and she cites saving on clothing waste as the reason. BTW, they do launder and/or dry clean all their outfits between rentals!
DeleteAs I begin to think about the packing process for my two week trip to Iceland in November, this is seeming like a great idea. Of course, it's geared toward women, which most fashion businesses are. Can I please get a full season of men's wear on Project Runway. Just once!
ReplyDeleteI digress. This trip is part pleasure and part business - for Iceland Noir (their very popular crime fiction convention that occurs every two years.) And it's going to be cold. Traveling with sweaters, coats, boots, gloves. I have a headache already. The good news is that we discovered it was cheaper to fly first class (and get no limit on luggage weight) than it was to pay any overage costs for heavy luggage. So that will make the trip a bit more relaxing!
Honestly, this is a third world problem. I am just so exciting to be visiting Iceland. I shouldn't complain at all.
Kristopher, the first class-vs-heavy luggage fees breakdown is amazing, and an interesting hack to think about. My youngest is going for a semester abroad this coming fall, and the thought of what we were going to pay for her suitcases was daunting. I'm going to look into switching up classes and see how it works.
DeleteI sent the youngest on her semester abroad with two LLBean rolling duffles (not the largest), each under the weight limit, and paid the surplus baggage fee for one duffle. She had a carry on roller bag for weekend trips and a backpack for her small, lightweight computer. Her textbooks were on a tablet. And she had to carry a five month supply of contact lens solution and buy locally for everything else. Good luck! It's a challenge.
DeleteThinking about Hallie's story. Can forensics pull DNA from perspiration stains? My daughter bought a formal dress once that had obviously been worn and returned to the store. Drycleaner to the rescue.
ReplyDeleteDepartment stores in Cincinnati don't carry fancy dresses. You're supposed to order them online, try them on, and schlep them to the store to return. I would stick with a perfect LBD topped with a drop dead jacket.
For travel, I alternate my two sweaters and have two scarves to wear with each. For photos, I have four variations.
Margaret, your formula makes me think of Marica Talley, who has a gorgeous uniform when traveling - black pants, super plain top, and a fabric art jacket over it. She always looks stunning.
DeleteWhat if I don't wear a size 1?
ReplyDeleteLyda, Rent the Runway has women's sizes! I've used them several times and I am evermore NOT a size 1.
DeleteExactly, Lyda. I am a mature woman of size, so you'll excuse me if I see this as just another way to be fat shamed by strangers. Even when a garment is supposed to be my size, the sleeves are usually too small, if it has sleeves at all. (Stupid little cap sleeves don't count.).
ReplyDeleteCan you tell I really hate shopping for clothes? I think Margaret and Rhys have the right idea. Top the LBD or slacks with a killer jacket, and all anyone will remember is the jacket, and how witty and charming you are.
Gigi, I've also seen women whose thing is a gorgeous scarf or a knock-em-dead piece of jewellery. The eye focuses on the luxe accessory, and not the simple slacks and shirt beneath.
DeleteI want my own clothes, so I know they fit, look okay, and are clean. I don't own a lot and wear what I have until it falls apart mostly. So no, not going to rent clothes.
ReplyDeleteAs another 5' 2", I have a really hard time finding things that fit and are the right length. I usually have to stick with lines that make petites AND try lots of things on. I think if you were tall and model thin, renting clothes would be a great idea.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I'm going to the Edgars this year, and have nothing suitable. Maybe I should check out Rent the Runway, just in case! The idea of shopping for something that I will wear to one banquet makes me cringe. And I can't wear heels, so that adds another dimension to the problem...
Debs, I can't swear how they are for petites, but I've been very happy with RtR. When you rent, they send you the same dress/outfit in two sizes, so if one doesn't fit just right, the other should. I've sent mine to my hotel, and then you just stuff everything into the pre-paid UPS shipping bag and drop it on your way out. SUPER convenient.
DeleteI think a hotel in a cold climate having outer wear to borrow is perfect but someone else’s pre- sweated Lululemon? No thank you. And Karen you are so right about fashion waste. Long ago dressmakers used to alter clothes to keep up with fashion, not discard them
ReplyDeleteRhys, when I cleaned out my mom's extensive closets, I really got to see how well things were made back in the sixties. She had beautiful classic sheath dresses that look practically new. My daughters got them -still in style!
DeleteI thought... A woman disappears. Completely. The first place the husband (and police) check is her closet. NOTHING is missing except her yoga pants and racer-back T. Dissolve to some fancy hotel and there she is trying on her rented wardrobe. Why has she disappeared from her old life and what's she up to and is her husband part of the plan... hmmm.
ReplyDeleteAnd PS I don't have high hopes for this business model with us looking down the barrel of a pandemic.
Ah, but wouldn't the police track the credit card she used to rent the clothing? Otherwise, I really like the idea.
DeleteHallie, would the clothes be similar to the Invisitble Cloak that Harry Potter wears?
DeleteI'm thinking she's like a Femme Nikita... she's got fake passport, fake IDs, credit cards...
DeleteGreat idea for a plot! So many ways to play this.
DeleteJulia, it is wonderful to have the option of Rent the Runaway clothes available. When I travel, I send a package of my extra shoes ahead so I do not have to pack them. Like Rhys, I get by with black slacks and fancy jackets. I do not care what others think of me wearing the same outfits. I used to love Rent the Runaway. Unfortunately, since I gained weight, nothing fits! The last few times I rented from Rent the Runaway, nothing fit! It was so frustrating! I always carry one knit dress that I inherited from my grandmother and it fits me like a glove, even though she was 4 inches taller than me.
ReplyDeleteThe trick about selfies is to bring a variety of scarves, which are light and easy to roll up. I always carry one carry on luggage plus a tiny backpack when I fly.
Regarding work out clothes, I always carry a swimsuit because it is easier to pack than workout clothes. It is wonderful that you can rent lulumelon work out clothes. I probably can find them in my size. However, I would have to bring my own sports bra and pair of shoes. Most shoes are too narrow for my feet. Easier to pack swimsuit and flip-flops than workout clothes and workout shoes.
Diana
Sending the extras to the hotel wherever I stay.
DeleteDiana, I really like the idea of pre-sending yourself clothing/shoes/other bulky items. I've done it for books and give-aways for conferences; I'll have to try it for my wardrobe. Shoes are often the most difficult thing - I find it hard to find the ONE pair that will work with everything.
DeleteDiana, scarves are my secret fashion weapon! On my first trip to Europe I was with seven other women for two weeks. I took one extra pair of pants, a skirt, five tops and a knit jacket I could wear as a sweater. And seven scarves.
DeleteThe other women kept asking me how many outfits I'd brought, because I looked different every day. It got to be a regular part of our conversation.
Scarves - I've just joined the party there. Now i buy scarves whenever I travel and pashminas have saved me - seriously, saved me - when I didn't pack warmly enough.
DeleteDiana, scarves, exactly! I used to attend conferences and frequently had to be in the front of the room, sometimes speaking, sometimes leading a delegation to meet with Congressmen, Congresswomen and Senators. I always bought a new scarf before I went, and then packed the old ones, too. I don't think anyone really caught on to the fact that it was the same black suit that I'd worn the year before. Even in those days I don't think I'd consider renting clothes. It's too iffy.
ReplyDeleteThe other thing is that if I am traveling to an event, like a wedding, I always bring a very simple knit dress as a backup in case there is an issue at the last minute. You just never know. It doesn't take up much room and a shawl or scarf can make anything into a dressy outfit.
But packing presents different types of challenges depending on where you are going and for how long. We have a friend who is about 6'3" and he is a big guy. He once scoffed at us when we discussed packing because my 3 tee shirts (and even my husband's tee shirts) take up as much room and weight as one of his. Don't even talk about jeans or sweaters or jackets. And shoes, whew!
And Julia, I agree about shoes. Also, the fact that you may be on your feet a lot, you have to bring something that is comfortable enough so you aren't crying at the end of the evening, or barefoot. My mother always said, "If your feet hurt, your face isn't pretty." I take that to heart.
Judy, thanks for sharing!
DeleteJudy, that is a GREAT saying!
DeleteNo to renting clothes. Women’s sizes vary so much in clothes and shoes. I have to try things on. Even that is hairy! It may look good on the hanger but...
ReplyDeleteI have to attend a wedding in April so I guess I need to try on what’s left in my closet and see if anything works.
Pat, maybe you can go with what several people are suggesting - the old dress or suit with a fabulous scarf!
DeleteWhat a great conversation today. Julia introduced me to RtR before my daughters S Cal wedding. I browsed, and browsed, but in the end landed up with a long black taffeta skirt with a inverted V in the front, and a sparkly drape neck top. I made a looong stole a la Renee Fleming, to drape over for pics etc. Most of the time I was barefoot. (Have I mentioned my feet are size 12). While I'm a decent height at 5' 6+" , I am, a dreaded word, Plus, size. Trying on a very cute dress for said wedding made me realize that, while it was my size, I was not its shape. That cured me of browsing. Find the shape for you. For me it's Eileen Fisher on sale, so much to love. As for packing; I remember the days of travel by ship, though I was a child. My mum had a wardrobe trunk with a hanging side and little drawers. Imagine three weeks out to Sri Lanka and needing to dress for dinner each night. Now it's black pants, layered tops and all the undies I can stuff into my huge sneakers. Oh, and scarves. I recommend for those needing to be their public selves, beg, borrow or buy duty free (Heathrow is good), a Hermès scarf. It shouts luxe in a very understated way. Any time the Queen is photographed wearing a scarf, you know how, it's a Hermès. They have much more than horse motives.
ReplyDeleteCelia, if I had eager stewards and red cap boys at every stop I made, I'd pack using several trunks, too!
DeleteI think the rent-the-clothes option is a good one for those women, like my daughter, who easily fit into clothes, with no weight or height or aging issues. However, like some others here have mentioned, it would be a sizing issue for me, as I have to try on items to not only make sure they fit my overweight body, but that they do the magic of not making me look as bulky as I am. So, I'll stick to the dreaded shopping trips of trying on clothes in those awful cubicles. As you can probably guess, I'm not crazy about buying clothes right now.
ReplyDeleteKathy, there are companies now that send a selection to your home to try on in comfort and privacy, and you send back anything you don't want for free!
DeleteI'm with Rhys! I want to wear a Helen Mirren cast off, too! LOL!
ReplyDeleteShe is the QUEEN.
DeleteI, too, have to try tons of clothes or shoes to find one that fits. I also travel on a very low budget. So I'll pack my own clothes, maybe not fashionables but cleans and that will have to do.
ReplyDeleteDanielle, better clean and neat and simple than messy and extravagant!
DeleteI could see it for one-time special occasion clothing, with proper individualizing, although with the latex allergy, I'd have to be extra careful.
ReplyDeleteOn the low-tech end, a friend has accumulated a pile of coats from friends and thrift stores, to lend to visitors to the Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN, when the weather turns cold unexpectedly. He gets most of them back at the end of the weekend and keeps them for the next cold year. Our art teacher used to tell students going on the summer trip to Europe to pack their oldest undies and throw them away when they got dirty, thus having room for souvenirs. ;-)
Mary, I like the old undies idea from the travelers' perspective, but oh, the poor chamber maids at their pensione!
Delete